Tuesday is election day, a day that promises to bring change to many parts of the country. Unless you voted early, this Tuesday, November 6, is your opportunity as a voter to go to the ballot box and give voice. Locally it looks like the status quo is favored.
Local voters can cast ballots Tuesday, November 6, at the Sloatsburg Fire Hall at Municipal Plaza, 96 Orange Turnpike. Polls will open all day.
In Sloatsburg, village residents will have a choice to vote for two Village Board Trustees. Candidates for the two seats include current seat holders Deputy Mayor and Village Trustee Peter Akey and fellow Republican John Bonkoski. Akey especially has been active on revitalization and village infrastructure improvement projects.
In the Town of Ramapo, Yehuda Weissmandl runs unopposed for Town Council. Weissmandl was appointed to the town board by Supervisor Michael Specht this past June but is now up for his own full 2-year term. Weissmandl still serves as president of the East Ramapo School Board.
In a June 2018 LoHud article, Ramapo political operative and Supervisor-whisperer Mona Montal inferred that the open Ramapo seat is the designated Hasidic Jewish seat on the five-member board, which already includes two Orthodox members.
To cast ballots, Sloatsburgers go to the Fire Hall at the Municipal Building. New York State voters choose a governor this election cycle and U.S. senator, while Sloatsburgers also vote for a congressional seat, state senator and assembly seat. The larger New York State ballot is fundamental to the direction of the state. It includes the governor, comptroller, attorney general, supreme court justices.
Current NY State Senator for Sloatsburg and much of Rockland County David Carlucci is running against Republican and Scott Vanderhoef. Senator Carlucci has been vocal and active in a district that has some substantial differences. Rockland politics can be bruising. Carlucci has benefitted Sloatsburg with responsive direction to NYS agencies and funding opportunities — Complete Streets, Route 17 improvements, Sloatsburg Library and other local improvement grants and funding sources.
Karl Brabenec’s district runs from Orange County to Sloatsburg and parts of Ramapo. Brabenec has not ignored Sloatsburg as it occupies a vast town and county borderland of issues and opportunities. The assemblyman is up against Democrat and Working Families working man Scott Martens, who is a carpenter by day. Martens actually attended the September Highlands Bluegrass Festival at Harmony Hall with his wife in early September. He stood in the crowd, enjoying the day and holding impromptu policy conversation with other folks. School taxes, cost of local services, community impact of non-taxed businesses and other congregating activities, how to make change and preserve community history and character were a few overheard topics.
